Religious leaders press for expanding Medicaid

AnMed Health CEO John Miller gives a presentation during a Medicaid forum at Boulevard Baptist Church.

Anderson Independent Mail

ANDERSON - A leader of a Christian advocacy group that represents 1 million South Carolina churchgoers visited Anderson on Monday to rally support for expanding the state's Medicaid program.

"The faith community must raise its voice to call for what amounts to justice in the life of those who are the down and out, the lost and out, the leftover and out, the looked over and out, the left behind and out," said the Rev. Brenda Kneece, executive minister of the South Carolina Christian Action Council.

Kneece made her comments at a Medicaid forum that about 35 people attended Monday night in the Boulevard Baptist Church Christian Activity Center.

Those who attended the forum received a copy of a letter from Robert E. Guglielmone, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston.

"Jesus made healing of the sick central to his ministry," Guglielmone said in the letter. "For my part, I believe Medicaid expansion offers a step forward for South Carolina."

Federal officials have offered to spend $11 billion over the next several years to help South Carolina provide Medicaid coverage to at least another 200,000 lower-income residents. Federal dollars would pay all of the state's additional costs for three years starting in 2014 and no less than 90 percent of the extra expenses in future years.

Arguing that Medicaid is too costly and ineffective, Republican Gov. Nikki Haley opposes any expansion of the state's program, which currently covers about 1 million residents.

The GOP-controlled state House of Representatives supported Haley's position last month, rejecting efforts by Democrats to expand Medicaid during a debate on next year's state budget. The state Senate has yet to consider the issue.

Speaking at Monday night's forum, AnMed Health chief executive officer John Miller said 10,400 Anderson County residents would receive Medicaid coverage if the state expanded the program. He said the influx of federal money also would lead to creation of 1,400 jobs in Anderson County.

But if the state refuses to expand Medicaid, Miller said, "jobs might be lost" at AnMed because of looming reimbursement cuts. AnMed is the county's largest employer.

Bobby Rettew, a multimedia producer from Anderson who serves as a deacon at Boulevard Baptist Church, showed videotaped interviews at the forum of people talking about their struggles to pay for health insurance.

"Our population is loaded with these people," Rettew said.

But Rettew also said the "tide is changing" — a point he illustrated by highlighting comments from the Republican governors of Ohio, Florida and New Jersey who have embraced plans to expand Medicaid in their states.

Earlier Monday, Kneece spoke to about 40 clergy from local churches, all of whom expressed their support for Medicaid expansion, said Boulevard Baptist pastor Johnny McKinney.

Clergy and congregation leaders from across the state are planning to visit the Statehouse on April 23 in an effort to persuade legislators to support Medicaid expansion.

Citing the opposition from Haley and House Republicans, Miller expressed little optimism at Monday night's forum.